Five People Arrested in Two Salem Church Burglaries

Police say stolen items included a ceramic set of praying hands, three Priest robes, a three liter bottle of sacramental wine, and a ceremonial candle

Salem Police officer shows one of the church robes recovered Monday night. Photo courtesy: Salem Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - Five suspects were arrested by Salem Police late Monday night, when they stopped to try on the Priest robes they had stolen from two local churches in Salem.

Lt. Russ Isham says the suspects, one adult and 3 juveniles, were observed breaking into the First United Methodist Church located at 600 State St. at about 8:15 PM.

"After stealing some small miscellaneous items, including a ceramic set of praying hands, the suspects walked to St. Joseph Catholic Church and broke in there as well."

Isham says 26-year old Wayne Allen Smith, a transient, along with three 16-year old juveniles from Salem, stole three Priest robes, a three liter bottle of sacramental wine, and a ceremonial candle from St. Joseph's Church and headed off to the Capitol Mall Park where officers arrested them as they were trying on the robes.

All four suspects were charged with two counts of Burglary in the second degree. Smith was lodged at the Marion County Jail while the juveniles were transported to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.